Obituary: James “Jimmy” Scales

Bridge City Municipal Judge James “Jimmy” Scales, 65, died July 8, 2017, when his riding lawnmower rolled over on him as he was mowing a ditch in Bridge City.

Born in Orange on Oct. 17, 1951, Jimmy was the son of James Scales Jr. and Sybil Goulas. He was the owner of Scales Construction, served as municipal judge in Bridge City for 21 years, and was chairman for Southeast and Deep East Texas American Red Cross. He was very involved in his community, was vice president of the Orange County Drainage District, past booster president for Bridge City High School, volunteered with the Bridge City Little League, and was voted Bridge City Citizen of the Year in 2012. Jimmy enjoyed playing golf and spending time with his granddaughter, Stella Claire, who he loved so much and was very proud of. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, community and his fur baby, Phoebe Jean, who followed him everywhere he went. Jimmy was a loving, devoted, and thoughtful husband, father and Papa.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Sybil; and his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Jack and Vivian Dorman.

Jimmy is survived by his father, James Scales Jr.; his loving wife of 43 years, Donna Scales; children Jackie Scales of Bridge City, James Scales IV and partner Cade Buller of Bridge City, and Jerrid Scales and wife Alyssa of Orangefield; granddaughter Stella Claire Scales; siblings and their spouses Johnny and Brenda Scales, Christy and Jessie Gonzales, Cyndie and Vance Chauvin, Susan Scales and Gail Barnhart, Kendall and Lisa Scales, Nancy and Lonny Biri, and Jodie and Andrew VanChau; and his brothers-in-law Johnny and Connie Dorman and Larry Dale Dorman.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 13, at St. Henry Catholic Church in Bridge City with the Rev. Steven Leger officiating. Burial will follow at Dorman Cemetery in Orange.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Bridge City Animal Shelter at 295 Bower Drive, Bridge City, TX 77611.

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